Imaging Characteristics of Frozen Corpses:An Analysis Based on Postmortem Computed Tomography  

作　　者：Sunao Li Wenju Jin Jiahui He Jun He Mingjie Qiu Wenjing Gao Long Fu Haibin Shen Zhiyuan Xia Xilian Ding 

机构地区：[1]Dian Research Center for Postmortem Imaging and Angiography,Zhejiang Dian Institute of Forensic Sciences,Hangzhou,China [2]Department of Forensic Science,Siming Station of Xiamen Public Security Bureau,Xiamen,China [3]Forensic Science Center of Deqing County’s Public Security Bureau,Huzhou,China

出　　处：《Journal of Forensic Science and Medicine》2024年第4期274-282,共9页法庭科学与法医学杂志(英文)

摘　　要：Background:As traditional autopsy rates decline,the importance of forensic imaging,particularly postmortem computed tomography(PMCT),grows for non-invasive cause of death determination and evidence collection in legal investigations,with unique considerations required for frozen corpses due to the lack of systematic imaging characteristic studies.Aims and Objectives:This study aims to fill the gap in current knowledge by systematically analyzing the PMCT imaging characteristics of frozen corpses.Materials and Methods:This study utilized postmortem computed tomography(PMCT)and postmortem computed tomography angiography(PMCTA)to examine tissue changes during the freezing and thawing process in a total of 61 corpses.Results:The results demonstrated that imaging changes in the brain were most pronounced during freezing and thawing,with a clear correlation to the duration of freezing/thawing and the position of the corpses.Typical ice crystal artifacts were observed in body fluids after freezing,while thawing led to a marked increase and redistribution of internal gas.Serial angiographic studies revealed"pseudo-brain hemorrhage"in the brainstem and cerebellum in several cases due to incomplete thawing and transport.Conclusion:This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the CT imaging characteristics of frozen corpses,elucidating the imaging features during the freezing and thawing processes.

关 键 词：Forensic pathology frozen corpse postmortem computed tomography postmortem computed tomography angiography postmortem imaging thawed corpse VIRTOPSY 

分 类 号：R73[医药卫生—肿瘤]